Declarations – Southeast

Working Group

“Consumers should not be victimized by poor claims handling and unscrupulous business practices by those seeking to exploit homeowners when they are most vulnerable.”

—Florida Consumer Advocate Robin Smith Westcott said in a statement upon naming a working group to look into how insurers handle homeowners’ claims.

Hard to Leave

“People always hesitate to leave. It’s hard to get a high participation rate unless people believe a very big storm is coming straight at them.”

—Allan McDuffie, of the Army Corps of Engineers, while helping North Carolina officials survey residents of the Outer Banks about evacuating in the event of a hurricane.

No Conflict

“I was in the Legislature 14 years. I never felt my vote was for sale, and I don’t think someone taking me out to dinner ever influenced my vote, yea or nay. And I brought that same feeling into the position as insurance commissioner.”

—Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens denying it is a conflict of interest to accept meals or gifts from people his office regulates.